The true Halligan is a forged tool, of one piece construction, available in a number of lengths (typically 18 to 54 inches (45.7 to 137 cm)), and of various materials, including titanium, Beryllium copper or stainless steel. Carrying straps or rings can be found. The 18-inch Halligan is often referred to as an officer’s tool.
What are Halligan fire tools used for?
Halligan fire tools are the top choice of the FDNY and one of the most important fire rescue tools. The tool has become very popular and is used for multiple fire ground tasks.
What is a halligan bar?
A Halligan bar, also known as a Halligan tool (sometimes also "Hooligan tool"), is a forcible entry tool used by firefighters and law enforcement.
What is a Halligan axe?
A Halligan and flat head axe. When joined together they are known as "the irons" A Halligan bar, also known as a Halligan tool (sometimes also "Hooligan tool"), is a forcible entry tool used by firefighters and law enforcement. The tool was designed by and named after a New York City Fire Department (FDNY) First Deputy Chief Hugh Halligan in 1948.
How much does a halligan tool weigh?
At the time of its creation, a standard Halligan tool was approximately 30 inches long and weighed about 8.5 pounds. The Halligan tool was designed with an eye toward maximum utility, efficiency and speed for the purpose of forcible entry and emergency demolition. Original Halligan tools are no longer produced, but iterations of it are.
What is the Halligan tool made out of?
The Halligan is available in a number of lengths — typically 18–54 inches (46–137 cm) — and of various materials, including titanium, beryllium copper or stainless steel. Carrying straps or rings can be found. The 18-inch Halligan is often referred to as an officer's tool.
How heavy is a Halligan?
Halligan Tools are standard equipment for fire departments worldwide. Council Tool's firefighting tool line includes a new Halligan forcible entry tool. The Halligan tool comes in two sizes - 30 inches, weighing 10.5 pounds, and 36 inches, weighing 12 pounds.
What are the parts of the Halligan called?
A standard Halligan (30” in length) consists of three parts: an adze end (6”x2”), a pick (6” in length), and a fork/claw (6” in length) with its crotch (5” in length) which is designed for conventional forcible entry. Both pick and adze triangle are 5 inches tall.
When was the Halligan tool made?
1940'sThe Halligan was invented in the 1940's by Deputy Chief Hugh A. Halligan of FDNY. this time, Chief Halligan worked with the Halligan bar's two predecessors – The Kelly tool and the Claw tool.
Why is the Halligan 30 inches?
Size: The standard halligan is 30 inches long. It comes in other sizes but I carry and recommend the 30-inch bar. Why? It is long enough to give you an increase in mechanical advantage, but short enough to do the job.
What is a fireman's axe called?
Wikipedia. The Pulaski was created in the years just following the 1910 Big Burn by U.S. Forest Service Ranger Ed Pulaski, and it continues to be used by wildland firefighters to this day. The tool is a combination of a fire axe and an adze (or hoe), allowing firefighters to chop or dig with the flip of a wrist.
What is the mechanical advantage of a Halligan?
The width of the adz is important as it defines the halligan's greatest mechanical advantage it can achieve. The standard halligan width is 2-inches, which, on a 30-inch bar, will give you a 15:1 mechanical advantage and 2-inches of spread between the jamb and door.
Why was the Halligan bar invented?
As with all great technology, forcible entry tools have evolved. The Halligan tool was designed with an eye toward maximum utility, efficiency and speed for the purpose of forcible entry and emergency demolition.
What Halligan does FDNY use?
Hugh Halligan on right. Hugh Halligan is an icon of the fire service. With FDNY, he rose to the rank of Deputy Chief and is remembered as a 'fireman's fireman' working on many of the busiest companies in the city. But, he is known best for the tool he invented that is still carried on nearly every fire truck in America ...
What is a fireman's tool called?
An officer's tool (also known as an A-tool, rex tool, or lock puller) is a forcible entry device used by firefighters and other first responders.
What is a Hux bar?
Hux bar -- A multipurpose tool that can be used for several forcible entry and ventilation applications because of its unique design. It may also be used as a hydrant wrench.
Is the Slamigan from Chicago fire a real tool?
Yes it is!" Fire I wonder where your writers get these crazy ideas?! Before the "Slamigan" came a real tool, engineered by one of Chicago's own. The Fire Maul, on the streets doing real work!
How do you carry Halligan?
Method of carrying Hook and Halligan Place the adz of the Halligan over the hook and hold together with one hand. A velcro strap placed tightly around the two tools helps out significantly.
How many female firefighters are in the FDNY?
134 female firefightersThe FDNY will now consist of a total of 134 female firefighters.
What do firemen use to break down doors?
The Halligan has become the most versatile hand-tool used by firefighters, since its introduction in the mid-twentieth century. The device consists of a claw (or fork), a blade, and a tapered pick, which is especially useful in quickly breaching many types of locked doors.
When was the Halligan tool invented?
The Halligan tool, sometimes called a Halligan bar, was invented in the late 1940s by FDNY Fire Chief Hugh Halligan. The Halligan tool is considered one of the most effective forcible entry tools firefighters can have at their disposal.
How much does a Halligan tool weigh?
At the time of its creation, a standard Halligan tool was approximately 30 inches long and weighed about 8.5 pounds.
What tools did firefighters use?
The Halligan Tool came about by necessity. Prior to the Halligan tool, firefighters typically carried a Claw tool, and a Kelly tool. The designs of these tools were imperfect. They were heavy, and left little margin for error, making them troublesome. Many firefighters who used these tools were left with elbow and arm injuries.
Is the Halligan tool still made?
Original Halligan tools are no longer produced, but iterations of it are. Small hydraulic-assisted tools used to gain entry, like the Rabbit tool, are now commonplace.
Why did Chief Halligan patent his bars?
Chief Halligan patented his design to make sure to protect it. He would sell his bars to individual firefighters or companies but not the city of New York. The halligan caught on, however, and companies across the city purchased the tools. (4) Original halligan forks. Courtesy of Scott Gamche.
What did Chief Halligan want?
Chief Halligan wanted something that was lightweight and easily handled but that was still strong and would not break in the heat of battle. The chief spent hours researching and using trial and error to come up with the perfect tool. In 1948, the halligan tool was born (photo 3).
Why did the Boston Fire Department put a Halligan on every truck company?
Folklore has it that the FDNY would not buy the tools from Chief Halligan, as they thought it was a conflict of interest and that no firefighter should be making money off of the department.
Why is the claw tool so hard to use?
The claw tool was heavy, hard to use, and hard to strike with because of an off-center striking surface. It had a claw on one end and forks on the other. As the story goes in FDNY history, bank robbers set fire to a bank to cover their tracks. During overhaul, firefighters discovered the claw tool.
When was the K tool invented?
The K-Tool was invented in 1972 and in 1975, McLaughlin invented the Pro-Bar (photo 7). McLaughlin and his cousin, Bob Farrell, an FDNY captain, wanted a tool with long, slender forks and a slightly longer adz than the original halligan.
What was the Kelly tool made of?
Captain John Kelly of Ladder 163 produced what was called the Kelly tool (photo 2). The Kelly tool was shorter, around 24 inches, and made of welded steel. The tool was still very heavy. The Kelly tool got rid of the claw and off-centered striking surface, replacing the claw with the adz.
How long did it take to make the original tools?
Chief Halligan stated that the original tools took 18 hours to make. The original tools had to be heated slowly, which several times led to some of the tools breaking under heavy usage. Chief Halligan refused to cast the tools knowing that they still would be susceptible to breaking when needed most.
Why is the Halligan important?
It’s important, especially in the fire service, to know where we’ve come from, where our tools come from, and why they are the standard. This not only helps firefighters use them, but also gives you a sense of why they work.
What happens if you choke up on a tool?
If you choke up on the tool, you shorten the distance of effort to fulcrum and decrease your mechanical advantage. Mechanical advantage can be increased on outward swinging doors by marrying a 6-foot hook or another halligan to help force the door.
How to force an inward opening door?
Forcing an inward-opening door with the forks can be performed two ways: bevel to the door or bevel to the frame. Bevel to the door is textbook and provides the most spread. When forcing with bevel to the frame, you lose spread because of the adz hitting the door, however it may be desirable when faced with a tight door as the natural curve of the forks will work its way around the door. The mechanical advantage does not change between the two. The mechanical advantage is 13.5:1 and is a Class II lever. Distance from effort to fulcrum is 27 inches. The distance from fulcrum to load is 2 inches. So, 27/2 is 13.5 ( photo 16 and 17 ).
What is the Halligan bar made of?
This was the birth of the Halligan bar. The bar was made of cross-drop forged from one piece of No. 4140 high carbon content steel.
How long is a Halligan?
A standard Halligan is 30 inches in overall length. It consists of an adze end, a pick and a fork (or claw). The fork is 6 inches in length and the crotch of the fork is 5 inches – this is key for conventional forcible entry. The adze end is also 6 inches in length and 2 inches wide.
What is the most used tool in the fire service?
The most used and go to tool in the fire service as we all know is the Halligan. The Halligan as we know is used for “everything” from forcing a door to searching a room, making purchase points in vehicle extrication to wall breaches and clearing windows for ventilation or a possible egress. You name it and a Halligan bar will probably be a tool ...
Which fire department had a Halligan bar?
As soon as the tool was available on the market it was a huge success that the Boston Fire Department was one of the first departments to place a Halligan bar on every ladder company in the department.
Who invented the Kelly tool?
The next tool was choice was the Kelly tool which was developed by the then captain of Ladder Company 163, John Kelly. Unlike the Claw tool, the Kelly tools striking surface was inline with the bar and had a 90 degree flat surface (adze end).
Can you use a Halligan on fire?
Being able to use a Halligan for multiple purposes on the fire ground is wonderful but knowing the dimensions of the Halligan can offer firefighters more of an advantage when using the tool especially during forcible entry. But first let’s start with the bar’s history.
Hugh Augustine Halligan (1894-1987) - Find a..
The name Halligan is well known to fire services around the world and is associated with the ubiquitous Halligan Tool. The tool was the brainchild of Hugh Halligan who advanced through the uniformed ranks to Deputy Chief and served as First Deputy Commissioner. Hugh A. Halligan, born in the...
HALLIGAN TOOLS
I remember meeting DC Halligan when i was a kid & my Dad was in LAD*43 & DIV*4 was next door w/ENG*91....i also remember Chief Halligan selling his tools to some BKLYN Companies in the early '60s.....he would not make the whole subway trip but rather would arrange a meet at a halfway point...
How to use a Halligan?
Here’s how it’s done: Using the Halligan as a striking tool, simply drive the wedge between the door and the door frame until a desired gap is achieved (Figure 12). Then insert the adz end of the Halligan into the gap. You can increase the size of your gap up to 2 inches, if the door and door frame allow, by cranking up or down on the fork end of Halligan and advancing the wedge deeper into the door as you increase gap with the adz (Figure 13). When the desired gap is achieved and the entire length of the adz is in the gap, with an outward-pulling motion on the fork end, force the door open (Figure 9).
How to increase gap on door with Halligan?
Figures 12 (left): Using the Halligan as a striking tool, simply drive the wedge between the door and the door frame until a desired gap is achieved; Figure 13 (right): You can increase the size of your gap up to 2 inches, if the door and door frame allow, by cranking up or down on the fork end of Halligan and advancing the wedge deeper into the door as you increase gap with the adz.
What happens if you hit a firefighter with a halligan?
If the firefighters are both standing, a missed swing will result in the firefighter holding the Halligan being struck and injured.
What is a wedge in a door?
The wedge is highly under-utilized and misunderstood. The wedge is the simplest tool for creating a desired gap in the door . Look carefully at the fork and adz end of any Halligan. Do not be surprised when you see that it resembles a wedge.
What is a Halligan tool?
The Halligan tool was designed and named after First Deputy Chief Hugh Halligan of the New York City Fire Department. Many different types of halligan tools are available today. Fire Hooks Unlimited Pro Bar is one of the most utilized Halligan type tools in the fire and rescue industry. The Pro Bar is the Halligan type entry tool that is recognized worldwide. The original Pro-Bar is 30 inches long with a fork on one end and an adz & point on the other end. Today, Fire Hooks Unlimited has a wide selection of bars, based on the Halligan tool concept.
What is HD bar?
HD BAR The HD BAR - is a "New House Developed" Halligan forcible entry tool..
